Page 96 of Missing Justice

He strode back to the door, listening for any hollering or voices that might drift from inside. Nothing. Maybe they were all at the front of the building?

Taylor swung around the side, moving at a good clip as her heels stabbed into the dirt. She waggled her thumb over her shoulder.

“I saw Glaw. That window is an office. One desk, two chairs. Filing cabinet in the corner to the right of the door. Glaw is in the hallway, leaning on the doorframe. It looked like he was talking to someone.”

“Okay. So chances are, this door leads to the hallway.”

“Which means if I open it, he’ll see us.”

“Shit,” Matt said.

“What now?”

He blew air through his lips. With only two entrances and one of them out of the running, they had a decision to make. “Well, sweet cheeks. We have one option.”

“Oh, my God. Don’t say it.”

He shrugged. What did she want from him? It was what it was.

“Matt, we are not breaking in via the front door. There’s a major street right there. Do you not think someone will see us?”

“I’m guessing they will, but from the street they won’t see we don’t have a key. And the way the front door is positioned, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say they can’t see it from the hallway.”

“Holy mother,” Taylor said even as she followed him around the side of the building. “I’m going to jail. I know it. Yesterday a rising star at the FBI and today a common low-life criminal. My mother will die of humiliation.”

“She’ll forgive you. Now pipe down before someone hears you.”

“You don’t know my mother.”

“Not yet. But I hope to.”

He marched up to the all-glass door—not a break to be had today—pulling Taylor alongside him. “Block the view from the street.”

After sliding his lock-picking tools from his pocket, he went to work, his hands trembling more than he’d like to admit because—hell on earth—they were sitting ducks out here. Freaking glass door. If anyone walked into the reception area, they’d spot them and what a handy target the two of them made.

He hit a snag in the lock. Shit. Lost the pins. He started over, but sensed the tension coming off Taylor like a grizzly on the prowl.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered.

“Nothing. Tricky lock. I lost the pins.”

And then, have mercy, she got quiet and let him focus. Damn, he was crazy about this woman. Lunatic or not, she understood his moods, knew when to leave him be and not pepper him with five million questions.

The lock clicked.

Done.

He shoved his tools in his back pocket and the two of them drew their weapons. Perfect sync. That was them.

“What if there’s a chime on the door?”

Now she thinks of that? “Then sweetheart, we’re fucked. Let’s do this.”

Holding his breath, he eased the door open. No chime. Finally a break.

Taylor slipped inside, ducking alongside the wall. He followed and the two of them took shelter behind a decorative half wall that separated reception from an open area with a table and chairs. To their left was the hallway that Matt assumed led to where Taylor had seen Glaw.

Voices drifted from the rear of the building and Matt cocked his head.